Battery brooder



July 27, 1943 w. M. WILLETT l-:TAL I2,325,198

BATTERY BROODER Filed July 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ArToRNE Jul! 27, 1943 w. M. WILLETT ETAL 2,325,198

BATTERY BROODER Filed July 5, 1940 3 SheelZS-Shee'l'. 2

JOM/v5. Omo/Y 5y Arme/yay July 27, 1943. w. M. WILLETT Ara1- Ar.

BATTERY BROODER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1940 l UWN Mr;

Mwm ARQ/,M4 /OO U Patented July 27, 1943 .y 'BATTERY RoonEn William M. Willett,y .Georgel Markey, and John'VV- y ,.B. Olson, Fort Atkinson, Wis., vassgnors to James Manufacturing Company, FortAtliinson,

Wis., a company of Wisconsin Application July's. `1:1410, serial No. 344.110 Y 7c1aims. i (o1. 1195.32) .1

The present invention relates' tobattery broeders and has for its principal object, the use of gas as a heating medium for the hover. A further object of the present invention is to provide a hover whereinelectric resistors may be economically used forheating the' hover. y

Another object ofthe present invention isto I provide a hover :having new and novel means whereby it Vmay be conveniently raised and loweredand whereby a transverse` division wall may be provided wherein a'single hover -will serve'two separate chambers. Y

A stili further object of the present invention' is to provide .novel kcounterbalanc'zingIneans'ior the hover whereby the hover `may .be quickly and easily movedjto anydesired height 'and wherebi7 when moved. into positionit will remain in the l lselected position.

, Another object offthepresentinvention'is provide novel gashejating means and a novel o utlet forl the productsof'combustion;

It is an object of the presentinvention to' prol vide means whereby the hovers "may be easily adjusted vertically by means of a crankedscrew .but having a supplementalv temporary lifting means which does not aEect the normal vertical- .1ya`djusted position ofthe hover.

Another' object of the present-invention is to provide means whereby afsin'gle longitudinally lcentrally* positioned burner may beused in an elongated hover having means whereby the heat radiating downwardly from the hover is equally distributed;

. YOne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a battery broeder comprising a number of compartments, one above the other, the lower compartment being `spaced a distance from .-theoor vand having means therearound to isolate the space under the lower compartment 0 1 between this compartment and the floor.-

y To :these and other Auseful ends, our invention consists of parts, combinations of parts, or their "equivalents, and 'mode of operation,v as herein after set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of my improved brooder, thehovers being arrangedfor burning gas as the heating mediumandhaving several of the'side and end walls removed so as to-more Yclearly show the position ofthe hovers.

Fig. 2 is a transverse endsectionof the hover, taken on line 2-2oi Figure 7. p f i Fig. 3 is a reduced bottom view ofthe hover..

.o ,Fig..4is` an enlarged end view'of one of the compartments with `fraction of` thefwaterin'g A trough removed.

Fig. 5 isa fractionalsectionalview'of me proveddevice, taken onI line 5 5 of Figure A4. [Y Fig. =6- is-an enlarged bottom view Aof thel gas burner.

' Fig.=^7 is an enlarged top view l of the hover, fil,- lustrating the meansfonregulatingf the height ofy the same. I yFig. 8 is aside view in Figure 7. l l

AAs thus'illustrated,l the battery, in itsentirety. is'designated by reference character vA, the hovers of the hover asfill'ustrated 'are designated, in their entireties, by reference.l characters B; and the chimney in its entiretybyv reference character.C.

Member A- comprisespreierablyniour cornerposts I i) :having suitable transverse members Irl which act to holdposts l0 intransverse spaced relation, 1' and *provideA divisionsr between the? come L f partments.

`We provide iongituinn .'membevrsfn which v act tohold posts l0 in longitudinalspaced relation and form .divisionslbetweentthe compart-.p v

ments, thus forming ay rigid `frame whichobviously v may include.; `onevor more compartments.

The :wall of the compartments are `formedin a manner `too-well known to require. further ,de -l scription or illustration..." Oneformofffendwall is "clearly indicatedfging Figure vfi and anotheniorm of sidewalls or panels is shown in Figure 1. The

shapes of :the'gwaterfand -feed hoppers are too well known to require :further illustration yor de' scription'."A ,-Thegwateringtroughs may be asillustratedin,Figur-ege` or. -onthe left end of Figure 5. K The feeditroughsv arey shaped preferably as 4illnstrated on -t'henearside of Figure 1. l The Watering and zfeeding; troughs generally are positioned relative to the screen flooi` of `each compartment asA illustratedfinthese gures. That is, the bot-l toms'of these' troughswill -be about on the horizontal planeet-floor screens 54. In all standard brooders, itisfthe custom-to place therr troughs on the Outsidero'f. the walls of thel compartment.

Thesewalls'or wirepanels are'frequently made adjustableso as to provide suitable access `to .the

troughs and --means whereby the attendantmay treill the'troughs'from tlieeXterior of the-device.

p Thelowercompartment, which will hereinafter l be callednumber one compartment, for-obvious reasonsmustj be spaced a short distance above the noon.; In order to piOteQj/ the. .Space under the compartments from drafts and prevent the'.

accumulation of {dirtwhich f would .vf require constant l@learn.native provide Side:.2\nd jendV .panels I4 and I5, these panels being secured to corner posts IIJ at their ends and being adapted to enclose the-space directly below the droppings pan in the number one compartment and the iloor.

Thus, a dead air space'is provided and chicks that escape from the compartments Will not be End walls 2,3, at their bottom .ed'esare posi? Members B consist of gable roofs 2t, which are insulatedfas-`r illustrated and are provided withinturncd edges 2| and 22 (see Figure 2) an'dendivvajlls'^2.33.3'A

^ itis suitably painted at its ends on opposite ,sidesfas-at 49, the paint extending from the ends tioned .slightly above the upper edges of mem-` n bers 22 and a bottom or iioorplate 24 is moved into position drawer-like fron'r-4 one' end oflthe` At one end of members B andin walls.V 2.3, we providean opening as at 25 suitable for device.

the"'reception of -arr'outlet duct 2E@ D'ict'si 216 aremade large enough to permitff-theies'capef'of means of bolts 48. When the burner is attached, member 31 will be in the position as shown in Figure 2. y

When the burner is properly adjusted, the ame extends intov the hoven' the bulk of the flame being directly under member 31, this membersacting as a spreader for tlfierflame. Itvwill be noted that member 2l is 4detachably'secured to the hover and, in addition to having atransverse 4extension 50 secured to its longitudinal center,

to lines as at 5|.y Without these ends being the hover and this feature is considered to be one of. the elementsof the present invention. It has bersk 23 -and C. It will be noted that nien'ioersI 2.6y are slightly h'igherf' on their v chimney Sends.'

, treme positions-' Witheet? becomingi' detached vor' bihtlfligf' i Itwill be seen, that we have-'g` rovi'dd adequate rmlyrieiufto-memoer'Aafiranyzsuitable marmer;

l niiet fastening@ Ueisf accumgas' burner* whi'eh' comprises "amd invertedand'i being "suitaliiyu Heidi-thereto mea-nfs of-Ja Membersfa @enamore adopte tofirgeiyfoiose 0pm gse/sammelte saaciieafiof-.member- :muy mi been found in practice, that a thin coat of black eriamelpaint best answers the purpose, the paint acting.' to -transfer additional heat from the f interiorof Jthenhover downwardly to theA space directly thereunder.J i

fIt-willfbe'nunderstood that Whenan Quand-off device isprovided for regulating thel heat,` apilot light maybe suppliedor the. heat'fmay beregulatedbycontrollingthe sizeof the name by well known means/ y .A 1 j,

Itf will I be .seen that'there is vconsiderable room under: and around theLv kedges `of the -hover Afor maintaining lsuitable .temperature for. the, birds and that when thebirds desire a gzoolerntempeera.- ture,.they have foursides, around-the *hoverv to of members "20` (see Figure') and-,We secure, to

the top of, these 'members,` preferably. af rubberoid or fabric` cloth' v60 as `:Lt 6i in.' 4any, suitable manner. We provide "statiriary'transverse bars :sz-6,2 which ,areipositionei ab'outgn a vertical plane? Withfmembers; v23 vandhie 'eiio'gh to permit the`r hover to' move 'to its- :highest `position, cloth' 60 Abeing bent around member 62", ea'chj' cloth mfember* extending in fthe same direction vand having secured to ,theirends; sheet* metall pieces 63 r`and 6.1i.` Clearly-by'moving members :6'3 and 64'to1the right or' left, the `yl'ioverwill "beraised oriowered: v l V"We provide a Yshaft' 652' theI inner end'being screwf'threaded into a'nut GBinmember 63,"which isI held against end movementby'openingfll' in member 63.*, The other end 'of member /65fi's'securedto'vmember 64 andnut SBmay' be usedfor 'raising or." lowering itsend of'the hover relative to-tlieother end.' "i Y Wei provide a shaft 269 f Which'is `screwthreaded into 'al nut 6'8 andfslidably'extends' throughy af-plate 1U thus' forming: a l"support for 'the' outer 'end of member 69. Shaft# 69 hasi'a" cranked lextension as at 1 l; andv a right langle portion being adapted toirest against plate thus; by turning crank 11'; members 60 will bemovediinone direction 'or' the other, so as'to raiseor lower the hover.r

To facilitate l"the vraising.- and: lowering yopera- 4tion's of the hover,l We provide a spring '15..Which isf-secured t'omem'bers; at one end andrto a chainrl Lat the" otherfend, the chain passing `through afk'ey opening T-Tin'plate 10.I (see Figure or-less tensionronispringl' Y 1 I Springr! 'lisis' designed?to1e'xactlyl balance" the rgfitasgltn 'height mais hover; therefore, vthe friction.V of jmembersQBD around members 62 willA be'` enough to hold theV hover in whatever position vit fis placed'.

Spring may be adjusted the hover will be ,to-move downwardly, thus to hold crank 'Il against plate 10. (Thereforeyby turning the crank, close verticaladjustments of the hover may be secured. .s If, vhowever.itfis de,- sired to lift the hover temporarily, so as tov bring all of the birds fully into View. allthat is necessary is to pull on crank. 'll and,..`vvhen desired, the crank may be pushed back'orallowedvtofrel turn to its original position. l It will be seen that close adjustments may be secured as to the height of the hover. The ends of the hover may be adjusted to an equal height and the entire hover may be conveniently' and quickly raised to any desired height. All of these so the ten'dencyof adjustments-clearly may be accomplished without interfering inthe least with the connection of the hover to chimney C.

Generally, it is desired that the hover serve y two compartments. This is accomplished by means of plate 50 and brackets 52-52. These members are spaced and deep enough so when member B is in its highest position, the birds will not be able to pass from one compartment to the other.

Brackets 52 extend from one side panel of the compartment to the other and are shaped as clearly illustrated which act as supports for the wire screen floor 54 and droppings pan 55. Somewhat similar devices are furnished at the ends of the battery so members 54 and 55 may be removed and replaced drawerlike transverse to the battery:` (see Figure 5) We provide partitions 53 on opposite sides of member B which rest between members 52 and extend upwardly far enough to prevent the chicks from moving from one end of the compartment to the other.

lling the space between partitions 53.k

It will be seen that we have provided a battery broeder adapted to be heated by gas. it is desired to heat the hover by means of elec tricr current, then suitable resistance pads may be provided in place cf the gas burner. When gas is used, it will be seen that none of the prodin Figure 8, having ledges We provide partitions 55 which are secured to the top of hovers B,v

. 3 y having medially `v positioned therein "a hover "andmean s' `whereby the hover may 'ben raised andflowered manually, a gas burner-mounted medi'allyjon saidihoven'a flame Alie over and spread the flame transversely, and

.said hoverfhavinga gable roof and a sheet metal door fadapted to be removed and'replaced drawer`-1ike. 'y Y s ,l i

3. 'Abrooder of the vclass described'comprising an elongated' compartment having an elongated mediallyl positioned' hover therein and means whereby the' hover 'may' be4 raised and lowered manually, a vgas burner mounted medially longitudinally on. said hover, a flame spreaderl plate within thehover andv adapted to lie over and spread the name transversely, said hover having a longitudinally gable v'shaped roof, and a sheet metal floor adapted to be removed and replaced longitudinally drawer-like, the ends of said oor for a distance on opposite sides being painted black to thereby increase heat transfer from the interior of the hoverto directly under the painted portions. v

4. Abrooder of the class described, comprising an elongatedv compartmentan elongated hover medially positioned, within said compartment and having means whereby the hover may be raised and lowered `manually, heating means within said hover, said raising and lowering means comprising two transversely positioned stationary rods, said rods being positioned a distance above said hover and in'substantially the vertical planes with the ends ofgsaidhover, fabric strips, a rod forming a connection between said reinforcing means and a spring secured to one When ucts of combustion will be permitted to escape into the compartments, and when the hover is heated electrically, if desired, chimney connections 25 may'be closed or dispensed with so as to avoid wasting heat.

Chimney C will create a slight vacuum in members B. In addition to permitting all of the products of combustion to escape, a slight amount of air will be drawn into the hover and will escape with the products of combustion; therefore the air around the hover will be kept fresh at all times.

In Figures l, 2 and 4, the burners are shown as being on the right side of the hovers when viewed from the chimney end of the broeder. In Figure 7, the burner is on the other Iside of the hover. We reserve the'right to place this burner on either side of the hover.

Clearly our device may be easily understood and conveniently operated because the operator will have complete control of the position of the hover and of the heat. y

Having thus shown and ldescribed our invention, we claim:

of said reinforcing means and being anchored to the end wall of said 'compartment to thereby counterbalance the weight ofy said hover, and a cranked rod being screw threaded to one of saidv reinforcing means, `the Vend adjacent lthe crank being rotatably and slidably extended through the end wall of said compartment and having means whereby said crank may be turned to determine thev vertical position of the hover.

5. A broeder `or thek class described, comprising an elongated compartment, an elongated hover medially positioned within said compartment/and having means whereby the hover may be raised and loweredy manually, heating means' Within said hover, said raising and lowering means comprising two transversely positioned stationary rods, said rods being positioned a distance above said hover and in substantially the vertical planes of the ends of said hover, belts secured to the ends ofsaid hover overlying said rods and then extending in the same direction for a short distance, metal anchors secured to the free ends of said belts, 'a rod forming a con- Y anchors. the end adjacent the crank being rotatably extended through the end wall of said com partment, whereby said crank may be turned to raise or lower said hover.

6. A brooder of the class described, compris--y spreader plate within :the `hover and adapted to` ingy an, elongated. compattrnenig.` an elongated hoi/:er mediallyr positionedfwithinj'said compart nienty heating means. Within said` hover,A raising and, loweringV means comprising. two, transversely positionedA stationary rods, said-` rods; beingl posi.- t'oned, a, distanceV above the ends I' of Y said, hover and in substantially: the vvertical planes. of." the ends(A of the hover, Ifabric strips secured, tothe ends ofsaid hover-oyefrlying saidrodsand then y extending in the, saine direction. forV affshort, dise tance, .metal reinforcing means secured to the free ends of saidiabric members, arodiorming "said enlarged openings to comprisingJ a number of compartments positionedgoneaboye another, ahoyer comprisim',T an inclosure positioned in each y of"v said "compart- `ments.` Said hovers; each havingl a burner and being adaptedto act as combustionfchambers for the burnen/ means fortindependently manually raising andljcrzweringv the hoversga vertically ar-l ranged' chimney positioned' adjacent said com# partments andhaying separate duct connections to each, of said'hovers for the escape of the products of; combustiom. and va vertically enlargedopening-'in one side of each of saidcompartments through which saidducts extend. the ends? of said ducts being looselytted into the chii'nney.V and hovers to thereby cooperate with permit free vertical movement' ofjsaid hovers.

WILLIAM M; WILLEN.` GEORGEl T. MARKEY. JoHNisK; OLSON. 

